Plumbing apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for installing or replacing pipe which extends between a toilet and a ferrule structure projecting from a soil stack couples a discharge pipe to the ferrule structure with a compressible sleeve which extends over facing ends of the discharge pipe and ferrule. Ring clamps compress and seal the sleeve to the discharge pipe and ferrule structure. Ears project from a flange attached to one end of the discharge pipe at a floor which supports the toilet for supporting the discharge pipe from the floor.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 679,780 filed Apr. 23, 1976now U.S. Pat. No. 4,155,572, which is a division of application Ser. No.610,863 filed Sept. 5, 1975 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,038,737.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Typical toilet plumbing has a lead (Pb) pipe which extends downwardlyfrom the bowl of the toilet into the space between the floor supportingthe toilet and the ceiling of the room beneath the toilet. The lead pipecurves in this space about 90° for joining with a ferrule by a wipedsolder joint. The ferrule is usually sealed to a TY section of a soilstack with a caulked lead (Pb) and oakum joint. Occasionally the lead(Pb) pipe may extend between the toilet and the ferrule without bendingabout 90° as, for example, when a toilet is installed in a cellar anddirectly connected to a sewer beneath the cellar.

The soil stack and TY section are usually made from a thick cast iron.The ferrule is usually made from a thick brass. The pipe from the toiletto the ferrule, however, is often made from lead (Pb); this pipe,therefore, is often the portion of the plumbing for the toilet whichfirst deteriorates and leaks.

Installing the lead (Pb) pipe for toilets in new construction hasrequired both considerable effort and careful scheduling relative tocompletion of other portions of the structure to make the installationmost easily. The oakum must first be packed between the ferrule and theTY section and then lead, heated to approximately 700° F. (370° C.),poured over the oakum between the ferrule and the TY section. Caulkingof the cooled lead joint with special chisels then completes the sealbetween the ferrule and TY section. The other end of the ferrule hasbeen previously fitted to the lead (Pb) pipe with a sealing bead ofsolder wiped about the fitted joint. The pipe usually curves upwardlyfrom the joint through a floor built above the lead pipe for supportingthe toilet. A flange is then secured to the end of the lead (Pb) pipe atthe floor and the flange secured to the toilet. The flange may also besecured to the floor with fasteners.

The ceiling of a room beneath the toilet may then be installed. Theceiling cannot be installed until the plumbing for the toilet has beencompleted because the limited space between the floor which supports thetoilet and the ceiling of the room beneath the toilet usually does notprovide enough space for making the caulked lead (Pb) and oakum jointused in installing the toilet. Thus, even in new construction,installing a toilet has required both difficult-to-make caulked oakumand lead (Pb) and solder joints as well as scheduling of theconstruction to first complete the plumbing for the toilet and thenfinish the floor which supports the toilet and the ceiling of the roombelow the toilet.

When the pipe from a toilet springs a leak, it must, of course, bereplaced. Replacing a lead (Pb) pipe, like initially installing the lead(Pb) pipe, has been a difficult operation. The toilet must first beremoved from the flange on the pipe. A hole is then cut in the floorwhich supported the toilet to provide access to the leaking pipe. Theleaking lead (Pb) pipe is then cut off, usually with a reciprocatingsaw. The caulked oakum and lead joint must also be removed, a processwhich usually requires that the ferrule be removed with a hammer andchisel. If the hammering and chiseling damages the TY section of thesoil stack which, usually being cast iron, can crack and cannot berepaired, a major reconstruction job of replacing the TY section of thesoil stack becomes necessary.

Even if the old ferrule is successfully removed from the TY section ofthe soil stack without damage, a new ferrule must then be installed.Installing the new ferrule requires inserting a new oakum packing,pouring molten lead about the oakum, and then caulking the molten leadto again form a permanent seal between the ferrule and the TY section ofthe soil stack. The new lead (Pb) pipe must also be connected to the newferrule with a wiped solder joint.

The limited space between the floor which supports the toilet and theceiling of the room beneath the toilet usually prevents properly formingthe caulked oakum and lead joint between the TY section of the soilstack and the ferrule without opening the ceiling of the room beneaththe toilet as well as the floor which supports the toilet. Both thefloor and ceiling must then be replaced thereby to make quite expensivethe installation of the new lead (Pb) pipe. In addition, the old ferrulewas probably in satisfactory condition (because of its heavyconstruction) even though the lead (Pb) pipe had sprung a leak.Replacing the old, but satisfactory ferrule with a new ferrule thenwastefully requires supplying the new ferrule. Of course, proper tools,including equipment for heating the new molten lead (Pb) joint toapproximately 700° F. (370° C.), are also needed.

Although it would seem that an easier way of replacing the leaking lead(Pb) pipe would be to separate the old pipe from the ferrule at thewiped solder joint between the two and then connecting a new lead (Pb)pipe to the old ferrule with a new wiped solder joint, the wiped solderjoint cannot be formed satisfactorily while the ferrule is connected tothe TY section of the soil stack. Even if a way of properly forming thesolder joint between the pipe and ferrule while the ferrule is connectedto the TY section of the soil stack were found, forming such a jointwould still be likely to require removing the ceiling of the roombeneath the toilet as well as the floor which suports the toilet toprovide adequate room for forming the solder joint. The additionalexpense of replacing the ceiling as well as the floor will thus still berequired.

In recent years polyvinyl chloride (hereinafter PVC) plumbing pipes havebecome available. Such PVC pipes, however, have not been available longenough to have been used in a significant portion of toiletinstallations in this country. In addition, after the recentintroduction of PVC pipes, their use was resisted until the satisfactoryperformance of such pipes could be demonstrated and local building codesthen changed to permit their use. PVC pipes are thus not likely to befound in even relatively recent structures and are even less likely tobe found in structures which are old enough for a lead (Pb) pipe to havedeteriorated sufficiently to leak. Most toilets are thus connected to acast iron soil stack by a lead (Pb) pipe and brass ferrule as describedabove.

Another recent development are pipe couplings formed from an elastomersuch as neoprene. These couplings are compressible sleeves which extendover facing ends of pipes. Ring clamps which extend about the portionsof the sleeve overlapping each pipe are then tightened to compress thesleeve about the pipes and thereby seal the coupling between the ends ofthe pipes. It is known, for example, to use such couplings forunderground waste pipes. Such couplings, however, have not heretoforebeen used for installing or replacing the discharge pipes from toilets.

Compressible sleeve couplings are necessarily flexible in order to becompressed about ends of pipes connected with the coupling. Thisflexibility permits the coupling to bend. The coupled pipes thereforemust be otherwise supported. When the couplings are used withunderground pipes, the ground supports the pipes. If, however, suchcouplings were used for plumbing, the pipes of the plumbing would haveto be connected to the structure for support. Metal plumbing pipesrequire only limited connections to the structure for support ascompared to the additional connections to the structure which would berequired if flexible sleeve couplings connected the pipes. Theadditional expense of such additional connections would largely negatethe saving in cost over conventional pipe couplings which could beobtained from the use of sleeve couplings.

The support for pipes which are joined by a flexible, compressiblesleeve not only must be adequate to support the pipes when they areinstalled, but also adequate to keep the pipes from shifting or saggingover the years after they are installed. Keeping the pipes from movingis particularly important when one of the pipes joined by a sleeve isthe discharge pipe from a toilet because movement of the discharge piperelative to the toilet could cause a leak between the toilet and pipewhich, because the toilet covers the discharge pipe, could not bedetected until the leak had caused noticable damage to the structureabout the toilet.

It is also sometimes desirable to connect one plumbing pipe to anotherintermediate ends of the other pipe. With metal plumbing pipes, suchconnections were usually made by cutting a section from the other pipeand inserting a Y or T-shaped coupling in place of the section removedfrom the pipe. These couplings have an extra fitting to which the end ofthe one pipe then connected. Such a connection thus effectively requiresthe installation of three pipes and a coupling to make two flow pathsthrough the pipes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the invention is to provide a method for more easilyinstalling or, particularly, replacing the discharge pipe from a toilet.Another object of the invention is to provide an improved way ofsupporting a discharge pipe beneath a toilet which, additionally,cooperates with and overcomes a problem particularly presented byinstallations according to the method. Still another object of theinvention is to provide apparatus for connecting one pipe to anotherintermediate the ends of the other pipe, which apparatus particularlycooperates with a preferred form of a discharge pipe used in the method.

The method of installing or replacing a discharge pipe from a toiletfirst obtains access to the space for the pipe. Access is usuallyobtained by forming an opening either by leaving incomplete a portion ofa floor of a new structure at the location for the toilet or by removingthe toilet and a portion of the floor therebeneath in an existingstructure in which it is desired to replace the discharge pipe.

The method next forms a ferrule structure which extends from andcommunicates with a TY section of a soil stack or similar portion of asewage system. If the toilet is being first installed, a ferrule-likemember may be installed in and sealed to the TY section of the soilstack in the conventional way with an oakum packing, molten lead, andcaulking. Alternatively, the ferrule-like member may be formed from PVCand adhesively sealed to the TY section. The ferrule-like member differsfrom a conventional ferrule by having a bead about the end whichprojects from TY section of the soil stack. The ferrule-like member thusresembles the member which is formed in replacing a lead (Pb) pipe froma toilet when the lead (Pb) pipe is cut from a ferrule at the wipedsolder joint which usually connects the pipe to the ferrule with thewiped solder and possibly a short portion of the lead (Pb) pipe insidethe solder left on the end of the ferrule. In both installing orreplacing a discharge pipe, this step of the method can thus bedescribed as forming a ferrule structure (the ferrule and solder orferrule-like member) which is sealed to the TY section of a soil stackat one end and has a bead at its other end.

The method then connects one end of a discharge pipe to the ferrulestructure with a compressible sleeve. Ring clamps extend about portionsof the sleeve which extend over facing ends of the ferrule structure andthe discharge pipe, the ring clamp around the portion of the sleeve overthe ferrule structure being between the bead and the TY section of thesoil pipe, i.e., the side of the bead away from the discharge pipe. Thering clamps are then tightened to compress the sleeve onto the ferrulestructure and the discharge pipe for sealing the ferrule structure tothe pipe with the sleeve.

Inasmuch as the sleeve is necessarily flexible in order to be compressedabout the ferrule structure and discharge pipe, the sleeve provideslimited support for the discharge pipe. To make the discharge pipe aslight as possible for the best support by the sleeve, and to takeadvantage of its lower cost and other desirable properties, thedischarge pipe for practicing the method is preferably a plastic such asPVC. The discharge pipe also preferably projects into the ferrulestructure for further support and to adjust the length of the pipebetween the ferrule structure and the toilet without stocking andselecting a pipe of the length required for each toilet installation.

An end of the discharge pipe remote from the ferrule structure projectsthrough a floor. A flange is attached to this end for connection to atoilet placed on the floor.

Where the toilet is being installed in a new structure, the floor, whichis formed in whatever manner is desired, has usually been leftincomplete to provide an access opening for installing the dischargepipe. Where the discharge pipe in an existing structure is beingreplaced, a portion of the floor about the toilet usually has beenremoved to provide the access opening for replacing the pipe. Thisportion of the floor is then replaced. Often, it is replaced by castinga floor section to fill an irregular opening which has been made in thefloor. The toilet is then placed on the floor and connected to theflange to complete the method of installing or replacing the dischargepipe.

The method is obviously far easier, less expensive, and therefore moredesirable than the conventional way of replacing a discharge pipe from atoilet in which not only the defective pipe but also the ferrule areremoved. Removing the ferrule requires hammering and chiseling theferrule from the TY section of the soil stack to break the caulked oakumand lead seal therebetween. Hammering and chiseling the ferrule presentssome danger of damaging the TY section of the soil stack. Such damagerequires great effort and expense to repair.

If the TY section of the soil stack is damaged, the wall behind thetoilet has to be opened to provide access to the soil stack. The damagedsection is then removed while supporting a portion of the soil stackwhich extends above the TY section either for connection to toilets orother plumbing above the toilet for which it was desired to change thedischarge pipe or for providing a vent for the soil stack. Only then canthe damaged TY section be replaced. Even if substantial care andexperience can minimize the risk of damaging the TY section of the soilstack while removing the ferrule, the extraordinarily great effort andexpense required to replace a damaged TY section makes even this minimumrisk unacceptable.

It will be appreciated that the problems of installing the lead pipes ina structure under construction include the separate installation of eachpiece after the soil stack or sewage system is installed. This requireslead melting equipment and special tools at each installation site.Furthermore, because of the soft lead structure of the pipe, it can beeasily damaged after installation. It requires the same procedure toreplace the lead pipe in a structure under construction as replacing thelead pipe in an existing structure.

The discharge pipe will have a separate flange which will attach,preferably adhesively, to the discharge pipe directly below the toiletbowl. The flange preferably includes ears projecting outwardly from itscircumference. The ears are secured to the floor for supporting thedischarge pipe therefrom. For example, when a discharge pipe is replacedand, as often is the case, the opening made in the floor beneath thetoilet to provide access to the pipe is replaced with a cast floorportion, the ears of the flange may extend into the cast floor portionto directly secure the discharge pipe to the floor. Alternatively, thetop of the flange may be secured to the floor with conventionalfasteners.

The flange having ears for supporting the discharge pipe from the floorparticularly cooperates with the method of the invention because theears provide support for the discharge pipe in compensation for thesomewhat diminished support of the pipe produced by the necessarilyflexibly, compressible sleeve with which the pipe is connected to theferrule structure as compared to the support for a lead (Pb) dischargepipe achieved when the lead (Pb) pipe is soldered to a ferrule accordingto the conventional way of installing a lead (Pb) pipe. Supporting thedischarge pipe from the floor beneath the toilet with the ears on theflange also cooperates with the method of the invention by takingadvantage of the somewhat flexible sleeve coupling the pipe and theferrule structure. Limited relative shifting or settling between thefloor supporting the toilet and the soil stack, ferrule structure anddischarge pipe is accommodated by flexure of the sleeve, the toilet andthe end of the discharge pipe secured to the floor by the flangeshifting with the floor to thereby maintain the seal between thedischarge pipe and the toilet supported on the floor.

Other apparatus, which is also particularly useful in the preferredpractice of the method, comprises a nipple. The nipple is adapted to beinserted into one pipe for connecting an end of another pipe to the onepipe intermediate its ends. For example, it is sometimes desired toconnect the drain for a washstand to the discharge pipe for an adjacenttoilet rather than making a separate connection to the soil stack forthe washstand. This example of the use of the nipple and, indeed, anyuse with a discharge pipe, are merely exemplary of the use of the nipplefor connecting one pipe intermediate the ends of another.

The nipple has a portion which projects from the side of the pipe onwhich the nipple is mounted. The projecting portion is adapted forreceiving the end of a pipe. For example, this portion of the nipple maybe formed as a male or female threaded connector. Another, stub portionof the nipple snugly fits into a bore through the side of the pipe onwhich the nipple is mounted. The stub portion of the nipple preferablyis as long as the wall of the pipe is thick so that the end of the stubportion of the nipple is flush with the interior surface of the pipe. Ashield is positioned between the projecting and stub portions of thenipple and extends radially beyond these portions.

The shield conforms to the exterior cross section of the pipe on whichthe nipple is mounted. For example, the shield may have a radius ofcurvature which substantially corresponds to the outside radius ofcurvature of a pipe of round cross section. In an alternative example,the shield is flexible for conforming to various cross sections.

The shield is adhesively secured to the side of the pipe to seal thenipple to the pipe. Because the shield extends beyond the other portionsof the nipple, it has a surface providing a larger area of engagementwith the side of the pipe to which it conforms than these other portionswould provide. This larger area permits better adhesive attachment andconsequent sealing of the nipple to the pipe than could be obtained byadhesive attachment of merely the stub and outside portions of thenipple to the pipe. Neither of these portions then has to beunnecessarily large just to aid adhesive attachment of the nipple.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred practice of the method and preferred embodiments usefulfor and cooperative with the preferred practice of the method will nowbe described with reference to drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevation, partly in section, of a typical toiletinstallation in which it is desired to replace a lead (Pb) dischargepipe from the toilet;

FIG. 2 is an elevation of the installation shown in FIG. 1 afterportions thereof have been removed according to the method;

FIG. 3 is an elevation of the installation shown in FIG. 2 after thedischarge pipe has been replaced according to the method;

FIG. 4 is a three dimensional view, partly cut away, of a portion of apreferred embodiment for practicing the method as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a three dimensional view of another portion of the preferredembodiment for practicing the method, the view being rotated from theposition shown in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is an elevation of a portion of the preferred embodiment shown inFIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED PRACTICE OF THE METHOD AND PREFERREDEMBODIMENTS FOR USE IN COOPERATION WITH THE METHOD

FIG. 1 illustrates a typical toilet installation in an existing,completed building. A toilet 10 is supported on a floor 12. The bottomof the toilet is connected and sealed to a flange 14 of a lead (Pb)discharge pipe 16. Although the discharge pipe is sometimes straight,most often the pipe has an approximately 90° bend from a verticalsection which extends downwardly from the toilet to an essentiallyhorizontal section for accommodating the discharge pipe in the spacebetween the floor 12 and a ceiling 18 of a room beneath a toilet. Suchlead (Pb) discharge pipes are sometimes called lead (Pb) bends.

An end of lead (Pb) pipe 16 remote from the toilet is connected to aferrule 20 by a wiped solder joint 22. The wiped solder joint forms abead about facing ends of the pipe and ferrule.

The other end of the ferrule is connected to and sealed in an opening ina TY section 24 of a soil stack at 26. An oakum packing 28 and lead 30caulked at 32 form the seal between the ferrule and the TY section. Theoakum packing 28 is at an end of the seal innermost of the TY section24. The layer of lead 30 is formed by pouring molten lead about theoakum packing and the outer edge of the cooled molten lead is caulked at32.

Experience has shown that this substantial caulked oakum and lead sealis required to form a fluid and gas tight seal between the ferrule andthe TY section in the corrosive environment of toilet effluent and sewergas. Experience has also developed the common practice of forming the TYsection 24 and soil stack 26 of relatively thick cast iron and theferrule 20 of relatively thick brass to also resist the corrosiveenvironment. The pipe 16, however, is often formed of lead (Pb). It issubject to abrasion by the effluent at the approximately 90° bend in thepipe and corrosion by residue of the effluent which reaches the pipebefore it reaches the ferrule or soil stack. For these and other reasonsthe lead (Pb) pipe often deteriorates and leaks while the ferrule andsoil stack are substantially undeteriorated. The lead (Pb) pipe mustthen be replaced, but there is not inherent reason for replacing theferrule and soil stack.

Unfortunately, however, the wiped solder joint required for sealing areplacement lead (Pb) pipe to the ferrule cannot be replaced while theferrule is sealed to the TY section 24 of the soil stack. The ferrule 20thus heretofore has had to be removed from the TY section (often withhammer and chisel), a replacement ferrule connected to the replacementlead (Pb) pipe, and the new ferrule and lead (Pb) pipe then connected tothe TY section. The process of removing the ferrule from the TY sectionis particularly onerous and presents some risk of damaging the TYsection which the necessitates a major undertaking to replace thedamaged TY section. In addition, to replace the ferrule, it was oftennecessary to open the ceiling 18 to gain access for sealing the ferruleto the TY section 24 with the caulked oakum and lead joint.

FIG. 2 illustrates the practice of the method in replacing the dischargepipe 16. Access to the discharge pipe has been obtained by removing thetoilet and forming an opening in the floor 12. The lead discharge pipe16 is then removed while leaving the bead formed by the solder joint 22on an end of the ferrule 20, with possibly a portion (not shown) of thelead (Pb) pipe 16 within the solder bead 22. With the solder 22 on theferrule 20, the solder and ferrule form the ferrule structure used inthe method.

For example, the lead (Pb) pipe 16 may have been removed by cutting thepipe with a reciprocating saw immediately adjacent the solder 22. Theseal between the ferrule 20 and the TY section 24 is thus undisturbedand no opening in the ceiling 18 is required to gain access forreplacing this seal.

FIG. 3 shows a new, replacement discharge pipe 16' connected to theferrule structure 20, 22. A compressible sleeve 32 extends about facingends of the pipe 16' and ferrule structure. This end of the pipe 16'preferably has an external diameter slightly smaller than the internaldiameter of the ferrule so that the end of the pipe preferably, but notnecessarily, extends into the ferrule for supporting the pipe with theferrule and adjusting the length of the pipe extending to the toilet.The pipe 16' is also preferably formed of PVC for, inter alia, beinglight and easily supported.

The sleeve 34 is compressible and thus somewhat flexible to provide onlylimited support to the pipe 16'. For example, the sleeve 34 may beformed of neoprene. Ring clamps 36, 38 extend about the sleeve atportions which extend over the ferrule 20 and the pipe 16',respectively. The ring clamps are tightened about the sleeve to compressportions of the sleeve into sealing engagement with the ferrule and thepipe 16'. The ring clamps may be of any convenient type, one type ofsuch clamps being formed from a slotted stainless steel band with thethread of a screw which is rotatably connected to the band extendinginto the slots for advancing the band past the screw as the screw isrotated.

The ring clamp 36 is positioned over a portion of the ferrule whichextends between the solder bead 22 and the TY section 24. Preferably itis adjacent the solder bead 22 for additionally compressing a channel 35on the sleeve 34 into sealing engagement with the solder bead 22. Thesolder bead 22 then cooperatively assists in sealing the sleeve to theferrule. Particularly when the pipe 16' is formed of PVC, additionalsealing means (not shown), like solder bead 22, are not necessary toachieve a satisfactory seal between the sleeve and the pipe, but may beprovided.

The end of the pipe 16' remote from the end within the ferrule 20 isattached, as by adhesive, to a flange 14' which, like the flange 14(FIG. 1), will be connected and sealed to the toilet 10 (FIG. 1) afterthe portion of the floor about the pipe 16' (which was removed forachieving access to the pipe) is replaced. The method as thus describedis complete.

FIG. 3, however, also illustrates an additional feature of a preferredembodiment for the preferred practice of the method. The flange 14'preferably has ears 40, two of which are shown merely by way of example.The ears 40 extend from the flange 14' in a position for securing theflange (and thus the discharge pipe) to the portion of the floor (shownin phantom) which is replaced after replacing the pipe. This portion ofthe floor is often replaced by casting a flooring section. The ears 40are then cast within the portion of the floor to secure directly andsupport the pipe 16' from the cast floor portion.

FIG. 5 is enlarged relative to FIG. 3 to better show the ears 40. FIG. 5is also rotated from FIG. 3 to show an embodiment of a nipple 42 whichmay cooperate with the preferred PVC discharge pipe used in the methodfor connecting an end to another pipe (not shown) to the pipe 16'intermediate ends of the pipe 16'.

The nipple at 42 has a portion 44 which projects outside the pipe 16'and is adapted for connection to an end of the other pipe. A passage 46for a flow path extends through the nipple. The passage may be providedwith threads within the projecting portion 44 to adapt it as a femalecoupling for the other pipe. A stub portion 48 of the nipple extendsinto a bore through the pipe 16' to an end which preferably is flushwith the interior surface of the pipe 16'. The stub portion 48 thuspreferably has a length which corresponds to the thickness of walls ofthe pipe on which the nipple is mounted.

The nipple at 42 also has a shield 50 which extends radially beyond theportions 44, 48. For example, if the nipple 42 has a round crosssection, the shield 50 may also have a round cross section of largerdiameter than the cross section of the other nipple portions.

The shield has a surface adapted to conform to the juxtaposed outsidesurface of the pipe on which the nipple is mounted. For example, asshown in FIG. 6, the shield has surface 52 (FIG. 6) having a curvaturecorresponding to the exterior curvature of the pipe 16' (FIG. 5). Then,as also shown in FIG. 5, the surface 52 of the shield closely fitsagainst the pipe 16' when the nipple is mounted on the pipe. The nipple42 is preferably made of PVC, like the pipe 16' for easier selection ofa suitable, known adhesive for attaching the nipple to the pipe. Theshield surface 52 thus provides a greater area for attachment of thenipple (and a surface conformed to the pipe) than is provided by theother portions of the nipple, thereby assuring better adhesion andsealing of the nipple to the pipe. The shield 50 desirably requires lessmaterial than expanding the projecting portion 44 to an area as big asthe shield 50. In addition, the shield 50 may be relatively thin toflexibly conform to pipes of various external configurations, forexample pipes of different external diameters, whereas the projectingportion must be inflexibly thick for connection to the other pipe.

The invention has been described with reference to one use of the methodin replacing a lead (Pb) discharge pipe to a toilet of an existingstructure. As earlier described, it is also contemplated that the methodis suitable for initially installing a discharge pipe or replacingdischarge pipes made from materials other than lead (Pb).

Other modifications of the method or apparatus as may occur to those inthe art are contemplated within the scope of the invention in which Iclaim:
 1. A plumbing assembly for connecting a soil stack to a toiletsupported on a floor, comprising:a ferrule structure extending outwardlyfrom the soil stack, the free end of said ferrule structure having abead extending generally circumferentally about said free end of saidferrule structure; a discharge pipe having one end adjacent said freeend of said ferrule structure, the other end of said discharge pipeextending through the floor and having first connecting means forconnecting said discharge pipe to the toilet; a compressible sleeveextending over said free end of said ferrule structure and said one endof said discharge pipe so as to form a flexible coupling between saiddischarge pipe and said ferrule structure; first clamp means extendingcircumferentially about said sleeve for compressing said sleeve aboutsaid discharge pipe and for sealing said sleeve to said discharge pipe;second clamp means extending circumferentially about said sleeve forcompressing said sleeve about said ferrule structure and for sealingsaid sleeve to said ferrule structure; and second connecting meansformed integrally with said discharge pipe and projecting outwardlytherefrom into the floor for directly securing said discharge pipe tothe floor so that said discharge pipe is supported primarily by thefloor.
 2. A plumbing assembly according to claim 1, wherein said sleeveincludes an annular channel formed in the inner circumferential surfaceof said sleeve, said channel receiving said bead and cooperatingtherewith to further seal said sleeve to said ferrule structure.
 3. Aplumbing assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of said first andsecond clamp means is an adjustable band clamp.
 4. A plumbing assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein said first connecting means is a flangeextending circumferentially about said discharge pipe.
 5. A plumbingassembly according to claim 1, wherein said second connecting means is aplurality of ears projecting generally radially outwardly from saiddischarge pipe, each of said ears being embedded in the floor.